Live 8 hits final high note
The gig at Murrayfield in Edinburgh began at 7pm with a performance by Scottish heroes The Proclaimers.
The event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and is the climax of their Long Walk To Justice on the Scottish capital.
Opening the concert, comic Lenny Henry said: “Tonight is a night of celebration as we attempt to make poverty history. This is the culmination of the Long Walk To Justice. Now, if only we knew two local lads who could sing a song about a long walk ...”
Then he introduced The Proclaimers who sang their hit I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) to roars of approval from fans in Scotland’s national rugby stadium.
As the night progressed, jazz pianist Jamie Cullum, pop chanteuse Natasha Bedingfield, home-grown act Wet Wet Wet, and boy band McFly entertained the crowd. 1 Giant Leap and Sugababes also made an appearance before U2 frontman Bono came on stage with a powerful message for the audience.
Leaning into the microphone, he said: “So I just came back from the most famous golf course in the world at Gleneagles. I met with these powerful men but I want you to know I did not play golf. I told them they can play golf but they can’t play poker, the stakes are too high. There’s too many lives at stake.
“I hope you don’t mind but I gave them your permission to spend your money ending extreme poverty in our lifetime... They wanted to know where did I get the authority to say that and I held up this box,” he said, raising a briefcase for the audience to see.
“In this box are 38 million people who are ready to go to work on this issue, and that’s just the Live 8 campaign.
"When you add to that 157 million people who signed up for the global action against poverty in 75 countries, I would call that permission to spend your money. That’s the most powerful mandate in the history of mandates.”
Bono then introduced South African former president Nelson Mandela’s recorded message on the big screen to a hushed stadium.
The anti-apartheid legend said: “As long as poverty and injustice can cause inequality to persist in our world none of us can truly rest.
“I’m sad to say that in this new century millions of people in the world’s poorest countries remain imprisoned and enslaved in chains. They are in the prison of poverty. It’s time to set them free.
“I say to all those [G8] leaders: ‘Don’t look the other way. Don’t hesitate. Recognise that the world is hungry for action, not words. Act with courage.”
Later, Hollywood star George Clooney joined legendary Scottish singer Annie Lennox on stage.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
